The stink around DiVincenzo and the call for an investigation: Editorial

The Essex County inspector general’s investigation of this mess was a whitewash.

Allies of Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, left, are accused of putting pressure on a charity executive to award money to people she felt were undeserving.Patti Sapone/The Star-Ledger

Faced with credible accusations of corruption, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo’s team went on the offensive this week by trying to discredit the whistle-blower who called them out.

But it backfired badly. And now it is abundantly clear that U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman needs to send his troops in to investigate, as demanded by Newark Councilman Ras Baraka.

At the center of this case is a brave woman, Connie Crawford, who has run a charity in East Orange for the past 20 years. She helps poor people in a pinch by paying an overdue bill, or a month’s rent. She is careful to make sure they qualify, that the need is pressing and verifiable.

Her problem began in 2009, when she says she was pressured by DiVincenzo’s employees and allies to hand out grants to people who didn’t qualify. Because her organization, the East Orange Community Development Corporation, receives money from the county, she says she felt she had no choice but to comply.

The story turned bizarre after The Star-Ledger published a story by David Giambusso on Sunday based on Crawford’s damning accusations. The next day, the county’s inspector general, Dominic Scaglione, claimed Crawford had recanted.

That was complete fiction, it turns out. On Tuesday, Crawford confirmed her story.

What that tells us is that Scaglione’s work is suspect. An inspector general is supposed to be fiercely independent — to act as an internal watchdog, always ready to throw the flag on his own crew to ensure that it stays clean.

Scaglione was acting as an advocate for DiVincenzo, turning his mission on its head. In fact, he makes no attempt to hide his crippling bias in favor of DiVincenzo and his top aides. “These are professional people with reputations and integrity,” he says. “They’re not going to be going around exerting undue influence.”

No wonder, then, that Scaglione’s investigation of this mess was a whitewash. He did not even ask DiVincenzo about the charge of undue influence. Nor did he ask Crawford about it, or Newark Councilman Anibal Ramos, who oversaw the agency that funneled this money to Crawford’s organization. It is beyond troubling that Scaglione’s son was hired 18 months ago to work for DiVincenzo, a clear conflict of interest.

DiVincenzo is not accused of making these calls. But most of those who recommended grant approvals work for him or are close political allies. And according to Crawford, they all invoked his name or his office. The only question now is who should investigate. After Baraka called for Fishman to step in, DiVincenzo countered by asking acting Essex County Prosecutor Caroline Murray to handle the case.

But federal investigators are far more experienced at this work, and far more credible, especially considering Murray’s budget is paid for by the county. No doubt that explains DiVincenzo’s attempts to keep the case from them.

This one smells bad. And the only way to clear the stench is to bring in the feds. Our hope is that Fishman moves fast.